Film negative supporting frame



Feb. 18, 1958 F. A. STIRRUP 2,823,596

FILM NEGATIVE SUPPORTING FRAME v Filed March 1, 1956 1- 52, ll INVENTOR.

FRQNK A. STIRRUP BY ATTORNEY United States Patent FILM NEGATIVE SUPPORTING FRAME Frank A. Stirrup, Plainfield, N. J.

Application March 1, 1956, Serial No. 568,860

4 Claims. (Cl. 95-100) This invention relates to frames for support of photographic film negatives in the operation of developing or processing the same. More particularly, the invention deals with a frame for use in the support and handling of X-ray picture film, wherein peripheral edge portions only of the film are engaged in an otherwise open substantially rectangular frame.

Still more particularly, the invention deals with a frame structure comprising a main frame of angular cross-sectional form, within which is pivotally mounted a film clamping frame or member firmly pressing edge portions of the film upon cushioned supports spaced in the main frame.

The novel features of the invention will be best understood from the following description, when taken together with the accompanying drawing, in which certain embodiments of the invention are disclosed and, in which, the separate parts are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views and, in which:

Fig. 1 is a broken plan view of a frame made according to my invention, showing the parts in operative position.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail sectional view on the line 22 of Fig. 1, showing a clamping member or frame, in part, in raised position; and

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

In practice, I provide a main frame 10, which is substantially L-shaped in cross-sectional form. However, the lower rail 11 preferably includes a raised inner flange 12 extending throughout the major portion of the length of the frame, the raised portion being omitted, however, where two hinge brackets 13 are welded to the lower rail 11 adjacent the free end portion of the side members of the generally U-shaped structure of the main frame.

To the ends of the main frame are secured laterally extending long and short hanger rails 14 and 15 adapted to be arranged upon a tank or vat in support of the film within the vat in the operation of developing or otherwise processing the film. The long rail 14 also preferably has a depending pin 16, which can be utilized for positioning the frame with respect to a support.

The hinge brackets 13 are wider than the parts 11 of the main frame and extend into the frame, the brackets having, at their wide ends, rolled hinge bearings 17 which are cutout, as seen at 18, the cutouts being adapted to receive protruding hinge lugs 19 on the crosshead 20 of a clamp frame or member 21, the lugs 19, in addition to establishing the hinge connection with the bearings 17 in operating in the cutouts 18, also engage the shoulders 22 of the cutouts in checking upward swinging movement of the clamp frame 21 to a rearwardly inclined position, as noted, in part, in Fig. 2 of the drawing. This leaves the upper portion of the main frame free and clear for the insertion of a picture film 24 into position on the main frame, preparatory to being clamped by the clamp frame 21.

Considering Fig. 1 of the drawing, it will appear that the size of the clamp frame 21 is such as to position the lower crosshead fingerpiece end 25 of the frame beyond the crosshead portion 26 of the main frame 10, the side members of the frame 21 passing through slits 27 in the upstanding portion 28 of the crosshead 26. This upstanding portion, as well as the lower portion of the crosshead 26, is provided with apertures 29 for draining, developing or other solutions from the frame when the frame, together with the film supported therein, is removed from a tank or vessel.

The sides of the main frame 10, adjacent the crosshead 26, or the upstanding portions thereof, are cutout, as seen at 30, and, in these cutouts, are arranged spring clips 31, the lower portions 32 of which are welded or otherwise secured to the lower portions 11 of the main frame, as noted in Fig. 3 of the drawing. In the construction shown, the clamp frame or member 21 is formed from rod stock, the ends of the stock being welded together at any desired position so as to produce a resulting more or less rectangular or O-frame. These round rods form the pivotal hinge mounting and also move freely, but firmly, over the spring clips or catches 31, the latter serving to firmly support the frame 21 in film gripping position, as indicated in Fig. 3 of the drawing.

Arranged upon the lower member or rail 11 of the main frame adjacent the crosshead 26, the hinge bearing 17 and substantially centrally between these two points are rubber or other cushioning pads 33 and the side members of the frame 21, adjacent these pads, have downwardly projecting beads or nubs 34, which form slight indentures in the film 24 in clamping the film in position within the frame 10.

The frame 10, between the bearing 17 and crosshead 26, in combination with the distance between the side members of the main frame, defines a standard size of film which is to be processed and here reference is made primarily to X-ray picture films, which are reasonably large in size. In the operation of mounting the film in position, the clamp frame or member 21 is arranged in the reclined position noted in Fig, 2 of the drawing with the main frame 10 arranged upon a bench or table. Then the upper edge portion of the film 24 is brought into engagement with the bearings 17 which operate as checks or guides for positioning the film in the main frame, after which, the film is dropped onto the sev eral pads 33; whereupon, the clamp frame or member 21 is moved forwardly and downwardly and forced into clamping position over the spring clips or catches 31. The frame can now be utilized to move and handle the film in placing the same in various developing and processing tanks, as well as in dryers and, after being fully processed, the thumb of one hand is placed on the upstanding member of the crosshead 26 and other fingers of the hand beneath the crosshead 25 in releasing the frame 21 from the spring clips 31; whereupon, the frame 21 is swung into its reclining position, as noted in Fig. 2, after which, the processed film can be readily removed from the frame. The slight indentures which are formed by the projections 34 at the side edges of the film are not objectionable as they are beyond the range of the picture subject matter of the film. However, these projections serve to securely retain the film against displacement from the frame during the processing of the film.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A film supporting device of the class described, comprising a main substantially U-sha-ped frame of L-shaped cross-sectional form throughout the major portion of its length, free upper ends of the side members of the main frame having long and short laterally extending supporting rails, brackets secured to said ends of the main frame and including downwardly extending cutout hinge bearings, an O-shaped clamp frame defined by side members and top and bottom crossheads, the top crosshead being pivotally mounted in the bearings of said brackets, the side members being arranged Within upstanding wall portions of the main frame beyond limits of said brackets, the side members of said clamp frame extending through openings in the lower portion of the main frame to form, of the lower crosshead, a fingerpiece portion for operation of the clamp frame, the sides of' the main frame, adjacent the lower ends thereof, having spring-clips operatively engaging the side members'of the clamp'framein retaining the same in operative position within the main frame,' cushioning pads spaced along the main frame, and said clamp' frame having, in alinement with the pads, protruding beads adapted to operatively engage a film supported on said pads in retaining the film against displacement from said frames. 7

2. A film supporting device of the class described, comprising a main substantially U-shaped frame of L-shaped cross-sectional form throughout the major portion of its length, free upper ends of the side members of the main frame having long and short laterally extending supporting rails, brackets secured to said ends of the main frame and including downward-1y extending cutout hinge bearings, an O-shaped clamp frame defined by side members and top and bottom crossheads, the top crosshead being pivotally mounted in the bearings of said brackets, the side members being arranged within upstanding wall portions of the main frame beyond limits of said brackets, the side members of said clamp "frame extending through openings in the lower portion of the main frame to form, of the lower crosshead, a fingerpiece portion for operation of the clamp frame, the sides of the main frame, adjacent the lower ends thereof, having spring clips operatively engaging the side members of the clamp frame in retaining the same in operative position within the main frame, cushioning pads spaced along the main frame, said clamp frame having, in alinement with the pads, protruding beads adapted to operatively engage a film supported on said .pads in retaining the film against displacement from said frames, and the top crosshead of the clamp frame having means engaging said bearings for supporting the .clamp frame in an upwardly inclined position to give free access to the main frame in attaching and detaching a film with respect thereto.

3. A film supporting device of the class described, comprising a main substantially U-shaped frame of L-shaped cross-sectional form throughout the major portion of its length, free upper ends of the side members I of the main frame having long and short laterally extending supporting rails, brackets secured to said ends of the main frame and including downwardly extending cutout hinge bearings, an O-shaped clamp frame defined by side members and top and bottom crossheads, the top crosshead being pivotally mounted in the bearings of said brackets, the side members being arranged within upstanding wall portions of the main frame beyond limits of said brackets, the side members of said clamp frame extending through openings in the lower portion of the main frame to form, of the lower crosshead, a fingerpiece portion for operation of 'the' clamp frame, the sides of the main frame, adjacent the lower ends thereof, having spring clips operatively. engaging the side members of the clamp frame 'in retaining the same in operative position Within the main frame, cushioning pads spaced along the main frame, said clamp frame having, in alinement with the pads, protruding beads adapted to operatively engage a film supported on said pads in retaining the film against displacement from said frames,the top crosshead of the clamp frame having means engaging said bearings for supporting the clamp frame in an upwardly inclined position to give free access to the main frame in attaching and detaching a film with respect thereto, and said last named means comprising hinge projections cooperating with cutout portions of said hinge bearings of the brackets.

'4. A sheet supporting device of the character described, comprising a-main frame of L-shaped crosssectional form and generally U-shaped in plan, the upper end of the main frame having supporting means extending laterally from the side members of the main ,frame, a clamp frame arranged within the main frame,

said clamp frame having top and bottom cross members joined by side members, brackets fixed to the side memthe clamp frame in the main frame and to check swinging movement of the clamp frame for support in an upwardly and rearwardly inclined position with respect to a sheet receiving area of the main frame.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,508,947 Allen Sept. 16, 1924 1,858,576 'Bornmann May 17, 1932 2,774,291 Domenech Dec. 18, 1956 

